Ban on 1 liter plastic water bottles postponed to 2027

President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, on Tuesday, has amended the presidential decree which outlines single-use plastics deemed detrimental to the environment, effectively postponing the ban on single-use plastic water bottles sized between 500ml and 1 litre.

The amendments revised the planned ban on packaging, producing, and importing single-use plastic water bottles ranging from 500 ml to 1 litre. Under the new changes, the prohibition—previously set to begin on December 1, 2025 —has been pushed back to 1 December 2027.

Likewise, the ban on selling plastic bottles of the same size category has also been delayed. Originally scheduled for enforcement on March 1, 2026, it will now take effect on June 1, 2028.

The presidential decree on December 1, 2023, established  the revised list of Single-Use Plastics (SUPs) detrimental to the environment.

14 specific SUP items including plastic items and those manufactured with plastic were identified in the decree as harmful to the environment, and outlines the dates on which their import, manufacture, and sale will be prohibited. They are: 

1. Single-use plastic-based drinking straw
2. Single-use plastic-based plates, cutleries and stirrers
3. Styrofoam lunch box
4. Plastic shopping bags below 30cm (To include oxo-degradable and synthetic polymer-based biodegradable bags)
5. Plastic shopping bags below 50cm (To include oxo-degradable and synthetic polymer-based biodegradable bags)
6. Sweet areca nuts in plastic wrapping
7. Sweet areca nuts in plastic packaging other than plastic wrapping
8. Single-use plastic drinking cups below 250ml
9. Cotton buds with plastic stems
10. Shampoo, soap, conditioner and lotion in plastic bottles that are 50ml and below
11. Shampoo, soap, conditioner and lotion in plastic bottles that are from 50ml to 200ml
12. Water packaged in plastic bottles below 500ml
13. Water packaged in plastic bottles of 1 liter and below
14. Beverages (carbonated and non-carbonated) packed in plastic bottles below 500ml apart from drinking water

The list of environmentally detrimental SUP items was initially published during MDP administration. Water packaged in plastic bottles below 1 liter and below 500ml will be the last to be banned under this list.